Making sure you have a retirement plan in place helps to secure your finances before you leave the world of work. But it’s not only your financial situation that will see a change, your way of living will too. With many retirees spending decades in retirement, it’s important that you maintain a beneficial lifestyle, that’s why we’ve broken down some good habits to get into to ensure a happy and, most of all, healthy retirement.

Maintain a good diet

It can be easy to fall into the mindset of treating yourself; you’ve earned this free time and it should be yours to do with as you see fit. It might be the decision to have a couple of extra drinks at your favourite establishment, or the choice to eat out over cooking at home. Your diet has an incredible influence over your mood and helps to determine your overall health. A healthy diet is the foundation of a healthy lifestyle – take care of your diet and it’ll take care of you.

Visit your GP

It may be tempting to skip visits to the doctor when you feel fine. However, maintaining regular check ups with your GP can help you to deal with many health problems before they have time to manifest. In the end, even a little reassurance that all is well can help you to maintain a positive mental outlook. Which leads us on to our next tip…

Keep your mind active

Take the time to learn a new skill; this could be woodwork, fiction writing or the saxophone. The options are far from finite when it comes to challenging your brain. In fact, mental stimulation is believed to help maintain individual brain cells by encouraging communication between them, according to Harvard Medical School. Retirement is the perfect time to try new things or pursue hobbies that you’ve only dabbled with in the past. Why not give something new a go?

Your body too

Making sure you stay physically active keeps the blood flowing and helps to stave off health issues that stem from inactivity. Some retirees join a running or cycling club, some go to the gym. You might want to take up a sport like tennis or golf, and if golf isn’t quite your cup of tea, you can head out on a hike or take a trip to explore the natural splendour of the countryside.

See your friends and family

Make sure to find the time to socialise. Is there a loved one you’ve not seen in a long time or a club you’ve always wanted to join? Use your newfound free time to reconnect with long-lost relatives or friends; social interaction is one of the cornerstones of a healthy lifestyle.

Keep your finances healthy too

Knowing that your finances are secure and that you have enough to pursue your goals in retirement can work wonders for your mental health. When everything is planned for and taken care of, you’ll have a lot less to worry about and you can focus on enjoying your well-earned rest and relaxation.

For more information on how to build a retirement plan that goes the distance, don’t hesitate to get in contact.